Arizona

The Best Place to Discover the Old West in Arizona

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Rodeos: Any rodeo, and this state has plenty, will give you a glimpse of the Old West, but the rodeos in Prescott and Payson both claim to be the oldest in the country. Whichever rodeo you attend, you'll see plenty of bronco busting, bull riding, and beer drinking.

Guest Ranches: On guest ranches all over the state, the Old West lives on, and wranglers lead city slickers on horseback rides through desert scrub and mountain meadows. Campfires, cookouts, and cattle are all part of the experience.

Monument Valley (north of Kayenta): John Ford made it the hallmark of his Western movies, and no wonder: The starkly beautiful and fantastically shaped buttes and mesas of this valley are the quintessential Western landscape. You'll recognize Monument Valley the moment you see it.

Old Tucson Studios (Tucson): Originally constructed as a movie set, this back lot and amusement park provides visitors with a glimpse of the most familiar Old West -- the Hollywood West. Sure, the shootouts and cancan revues are silly, but it's all in good fun, and everyone gets a thrill out of seeing the occasional film crew in action.

Cowboy Poetry Festivals: From heroes on horseback to poets on the prairie, it's been a long, lonesome ride for the American cowboy. At several events around the state, you can hear how some cowboys deal with the hardships and happiness of the cowboy life.

Tombstone: Unlike Old Tucson, which is the reel Old West, Tombstone is a genuine historic town -- the real Old West. However, "the town too tough to die" was reincarnated long ago as a major tourist attraction with gunslingers in the streets, stagecoach rides, and shootouts at the O.K. Corral.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.